Ranger Paula teaching about pitcher plants
|
3/06/10
|
|
The Big Thicket
3/02/10
Vicki and I had a great time with Ranger Paula Rivers and the photography students from Raul Yzaguirre Charter School on our trip to the Big Thicket. If you have never ventured east to this amazing place you need to put it on your list. It was a beautiful day and the forest was full of birds and frogs. The students learned all about sundew and pitcher plants and the history of the preserve. We can't wait to see their photographs.
|
|
Pine Warbler at the feeder
|
Lots of BIRDS
2/19/10
We have been enjoying a bounty of birds at the nature center these last few days. Huge flocks of Cedar Waxwings have been stripping the Ilex and American Goldfinches are enjoying all the feeders. We had a pelican soaring overhead yesterday along with herons and cormorants along the bayou. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are still working on trees and Mockingbirds are getting territorial.
|
|
Christine and her stepping stone
|
2/05/10
|
|
The FROGS
2/05/10
Our new garden club has been working hard! The FROGS (Fraternity of Radical Organic Gardening Students) have been planting annuals and lots of veggies and herbs in the gardens. They are weeding, journaling, and getting artistic with a new series of stepping stones. You will get to meet them all at the Festival on the Bayou on May 8th, 2010!
|
|
P is for Prairie Dog
1/29/10
The Bayou Barn was transformed into a prairie dog town for class today. The Bayou Buddies made prairie dog masks and enjoyed exploring the different chambers of the burrow system. Prairie dogs have their own language and can communicate specific information such as what type of predator is approaching. The Bayou Buddies had fun giving the "yip-yip" alarm call and then running for cover in one of the tunnels. Our sanctuary team recently cut down the grasses in our pocket prairie in order to help them grow. We eagerly look forward to the return of our tall grasses and to discovering the creatures that call the prairie home.
|
|
New garden thanks to 3 girl scout troops
1/23/10
We had a busy day at the nature center. We spent the morning with brownies who were earning their Animal Try-it and the afternoon with three junior troops earning their Eco-Action badge. They worked really hard to expand one of our gardens. A few of their brothers even pitched in to help with the digging. We had two great volunteers from the neighborhood, Victoria and her sister Olivia. They did a great job! Thanks to these harding working kids we have a big beautiful garden in the backyard. Come and visit to see it!
|
|
O is for Octopus!
1/22/10
It was a beautiful day for Bayou Buddies class! We've been stuck inside for many weeks due to cold temps and rain so we took full advantage of the sunshine today! The children learned all about octopuses and even got to experience what life as an octopus might be like when they donned costumes complete with 8 arms covered in suckers! It was a delight to observe the kids swimming, catching food, and escaping predators by hiding or releasing a cloud of ink. Bayou Buddies class is always an adventure and I'm so thankful that I get to spend time with such amazing kids each week!
|
|
Family Nature Explore Club explores Kleb Woods
1/16/10
Houston Audubon's Family Nature Explore Club hit the trails at Kleb Woods Nature Preserve today. Kendra was our fantastic tour guide who braved the dreary weather to take us on a short hike and history tour of the preserve. The kids really enjoyed visiting the Kleb home and looking at all the farm machinery. I think their favorite part was jumping and running through the mud puddles on the trails. That is what rubber boots were made for after all. It is always so great to see kids just having a great time outdoors. We saw lots of birds at their new bird feeding area we all enjoyed our brown bag lunch at the nature center. We will head to the San Jacinto Battlegrounds in February and everyone is invited. Again, huge thanks to Kendra!
|
|
Tskili keeping an eye on the person with the camera
|
Birds and Boy Scouts
1/14/10
Yesterday I visited with 14 boy scouts from Wolf Den 695. I joined them for their meeting at the Kinkaid School and brought some of our feathered ambassadors for them to meet. The boys had raised money to sponsor Percy the Eastern Screech Owl through our Adopt-a-Bird program. The funds they raised will help purchase food for Percy and take care of any housing or vet needs that come up during the year. They were a great group and I really enjoyed meeting Percy's sponsors face to face. They really enjoyed seeing the birds!
|
|
